Lanka suspects LTTE of having satellite safe-houses

Sri Lanka suspects LTTE of having "satellite safe-houses" on the border of the rebel-held Mannar-Vavuniya districts, the lankan Defence Ministry said in a report today.

According to the report, the elite police Special Task Force personnel conducting search operations in Vavuniya, recovered a 500 feet long safety code yesterday.

"During the search operations conducted in general area Kurumankadu - along the Vavuniya - Mannar road, STF personnel recovered a 500ft length safety code. Defence sources estimate that LTTE maintains satellite safe houses and rendezvous locations in the borders of Vavuniya and Mannar Districts,"

Defence Ministry said in a statement.

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http://www.newkerala.com/oct.php?action=fullnews&id=7351

Sri Lanka airs concern at Myanmar situation

Sri Lanka expressed concern Monday about the situation in Myanmar, where peaceful demonstrations have been met with a brutal government crackdown, and said it expected the country to resolve 'all issues through a peaceful process of national reconciliation and political accommodation'.

Sri Lanka, which maintains close ties with Myanmar, was criticized for its silence until now on the deadly crackdown that began last week after more than a month of peaceful anti-government protests.

The foreign ministry said in a statement that Sri Lanka was 'concerned at the current situation in Myanmar and will continue to observe it closely'.

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http://www.indiaenews.com/india/20071001/73069.htm

Lankan expert says Sethu project can harm island's marine life

Amidst the raging controversy in India over Sethusamudram, an expert here has warned that the project can harm Sri Lanka's coastal and marine life.

"The Sethusamudram project can cause problems to Sri Lanka's coastal and marine life," Malith Mendis, a member of the Sri Lankan delegation to study the project has said.

Mendis, the CEO of Lanka Hydraulic Institute, said if the project goes ahead, there will be considerable changes in the currents and that can affect marine life.

Mendis told the Daily Mirror newspaper that Sri Lankan authorities have investigated more into the matter than their Indian counterparts and are concerned about the project.

"While it can be expected to create changes in the sea currents in the region, the effect on biodiversity is unpredictable," he said.

Meanwhile, the Asian Tribune newspaper claimed the project would pose a threat to the livelihood of fishermen.

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http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200710011101.htm

Anton Balasingham's death leaves a void, replacement difficult

The Tiger outfit is losing its self acclaimed international recognition as liberators of the Tamil community as Tamil people are fast distancing from the organisation with the realisation of the fact that the LTTE was the only reason behind their suffering.

With the bloody beating they are getting from ground, sea and air against their terror network spread across the globe, they are now in desperate need of an international image boost as they have deprived all the chances of appearing before international community either as liberators of the Tamil community or as a ruthless terror organisation.

The widely publicised internal rift within the organisation for the secondary level leadership apparently between Pottu Amman and Soosai and the low morale of the Tiger cadres due to their constant defeats in the face of Security Forces' retaliatory attacks have left no chances for them to have their much needed recognition.

Read more,
http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2007/09/30/fea02.asp